Interacting with a group of journalists here on Thursday, he said the network was modelled on the lines of a similar system operating among South-East Asian nations. Government agencies like Customs, police and NGOs from the South Asian countries share information and address wildlife trafficking issues on a real-time basis.

Expressing concern over the decline in tiger population and poaching of one-horned rhino in India, he said the network was an effort to help enforcement agencies.

Asked if the enforcement agencies would be provided equipment, he said, “that’s long term -- if we get funding sources from the United States government.”

Flood Forecasting was another issue on which REO was promoting regional cooperation among India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh through exchange of hydrological and meteorological data. Similar networking efforts were being made to prevent “invasive species” of plants and animals from spreading to non-native areas.

Jay Pal Shrestha, regional environmental affairs specialist, REO, who was also present, cited the example of how a mile-a-minute plant was creating a lot of problems in Nepal.

Mr. Adams Jr. said the REO tried to keep abreast of environmental issues in South Asia and covered all SAARC nations, except Afghanistan. REO was one of the 12 U.S. State Department Environment hub offices created during the tenure of former President Bill Clinton.

‘Red corridor’

He said that he had interacted with officials of the forests and environment department, an NGO and academics from Osmania University and University of Hyderabad on some of the environmental issues facing the State.

He also sought to know about ‘red corridor’ and how environmental issues affected tribals and were partly behind the activism of some political groups.